After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

"Then I'll have to trouble Manager Chen." Ning Nan smiled and cupped his hands in greeting at the counter. If you didn't look at his clothes, he was indeed as gentle and refined as jade, a perfect gentleman in this world.

Shopkeeper Chen waved his hand with an embarrassed smile: "Young Master Ning, you're too kind."

He raised his hand in a gesture of invitation, his wrinkled face beaming like a blooming flower: "Young Master Ning, I've had a feast prepared to entertain our distinguished guest. If you're not busy, why don't you stay for a simple meal?"

Ning Nan smiled and said, "Manager Chen is so hospitable, it would be impolite of me to refuse."

"Thank you for gracing me with your presence, Young Master Ning! Please!"

"Please!" Ning Nan turned around, intending to follow the other party to the private room to try the signature dishes of Fu Lai Tavern... but bumped into Shangguan Xiuxiu, uh... and a few ugly and deformed Imperial Guards.

"Brother Ning?" Shangguan Xiu asked in surprise.

"Brother Yushan," Ning Nan said with a smile, addressing the other man by his courtesy name.

I thought the other person might be on official business and I didn't intend to bother them, but I still bumped into them.

"Does Young Master Ning know Lord Shangguan?" Manager Chen's pupils narrowed slightly, and he bowed even lower.

"Ah, we know each other." Ning Nan smiled and introduced, "We're friends."

Shangguan Xiu nodded immediately and smiled, "Yes, a kindred spirit."

Ning Nan's smile immediately became more genuine.

Shopkeeper Chen greeted them with a smile and immediately invited Ning Nan, Shangguan Xiu, and several other Imperial Guards into the private room.

The other Imperial Guards were somewhat surprised, staring at the inexplicable boy in straw sandals, looking him up and down with strange expressions in their eyes.

"What's going on? This country bumpkin not only makes the owner of Fu Lai Tavern bow down, but he's also the boss's confidant?!"

Shangguan Xiu was also a little confused.

Brother Ning, shouldn't you be in Lijia Village? Why have you suddenly come to Nanjing? And even to Datong Street right under the imperial city!

Not only that, this Brother Ning actually managed to make Manager Chen go from arrogant to obsequious in the blink of an eye, even arranging a private room and food and drinks for him, seemingly without spending any money. I wonder if he'll even arrange two women for him?!

Shangguan Xiu took a breath, somewhat bewildered. He had previously thought this person was capable. On one hand, he was able to design such handcuffs, which were ingenious and truly remarkable. On the other hand, in that fleeting glimpse that day, he discovered that this person was extremely skilled. Whether it was capturing Li Liang or capturing himself, he was both fast and ruthless, even causing him to stumble.

But all of these things are still within the realm of understanding; today's matter is truly more complicated.

Fu Lai Tavern is notorious for looking down on people, but it certainly doesn't look up to anyone much.

If he weren't the son of the Marquis of Zhenguo, even as a mere centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he would have to treat this shopkeeper with utmost respect and wouldn't dare to offend him.

But right now, the shopkeeper was really leading the way like an old servant.

"What happened?"

Shangguan Xiu lowered his voice and frowned.

Ning Nan made a 'shh' gesture.

"Let's eat first."

The private room at Fu Lai Tavern had a lovely atmosphere, with boxwood tables and chairs, incense burning, and several peony and ancient pine trees displayed inside, making it a very pleasing sight.

Ning Nan unceremoniously took off his baggage and sat in the main seat. Shangguan Xiu waved his hand, and several stunned Imperial Guards took their seats one by one, feeling a little uneasy... How could a country boy have such a strong presence?

"Young Master Ning, please wait a moment. This old man will go and urge the dishes to be ready." Manager Chen stroked his beard and chuckled.

"Thank you, Manager Chen."

Ning Nan picked up a teacup, touched it—it was a sandalwood teacup. At that moment, the quick-witted waiter immediately stepped forward and began to pour tea for the group in various ways.

Ning Nan cheered.

He glanced to the side and noticed that Shangguan Xiuxiu's eyes were even more puzzled.

He didn't intend to explain anything, but just chatted casually with Shangguan Xiuxiu, mainly asking about the local customs and culture of the capital. Since she was a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, she definitely knew much more than Yang Bing.

As they talked...

One after another, the signature dishes of Fu Lai Tavern were served, and Shangguan Xiu gradually forgot about the matter. After a few cups of good wine, Shangguan Xiu squinted his eyes, patted Ning Nan's shoulder, and said, "Brother, since you've come to our turf, tonight I'll treat you to a meal at Yan Chun Pavilion. Will you do me the honor?"

"Here you go..." Ning Nan nodded helplessly as he picked up some food.

The other Imperial Guards raised their eyebrows, glanced at each other, and knew that their plans for the night were in place!

Ning Nan didn't care. Anyway, half of the business in Nanjing was done, and the other half would be finished this afternoon. It wouldn't be a problem to have a drink with Shangguan Xiuxiu tonight.

When I went to the counter to deliver the letter to the shopkeeper, before I could even speak, the shopkeeper acted as if he didn't care and waved me away like a beggar.

Ning Nan didn't mind and politely asked for the other person's name.

The shopkeeper glanced at him, and although his expression wasn't very pleasant, he still replied with a "Chen".

The surname 'Chen' matches what Cui Cui said.

He had once asked Cuicui in detail about the owner of Fulai Tavern, including his name, age, place of origin, and physical characteristics. Cuicui said that the owner of Fulai Tavern was named Chen Ruhai, was in his fifties, chubby, kind and approachable, and easy to recognize.

But just now, he saw that Manager Chen was thin and bony, with deep wrinkles on his face and a somewhat gloomy expression. He was not only not kind and approachable, but he could hardly be called "kind".

He then asked the other party, "Do you know where Manager Chen Ruhai is?"

Unexpectedly, the other person's expression immediately turned sour, and they shouted for him to leave immediately.

Ning Nan persisted for a while and asked politely several more times before the other party began to forcibly expel him.

Because he couldn't be sure if the other person was Chen Ruhai, or if this was really the place Cuicui had mentioned, he was quite troubled and was considering leaving.

But then, the shopkeeper, surnamed Chen, said, "How dare you call our boss by his name... A beggar, finding out our boss's name, just wants to freeload..."

Ning Nan immediately understood. It seemed that Fu Lai Tavern was indeed under Chen Ruhai's management, but Chen Ruhai had hired this Manager Chen to be the manager, and the Zhu family was the owner's owner.

Now that the person and location were confirmed, Ning Nan didn't stand on ceremony and hurriedly asked with a hint of surprise, "Excuse me, is it Uncle Chen in person?"

Manager Chen was taken aback. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Ning Nan gave a wry smile and said that he and Uncle Chen Ruhai were both from Ji'an Prefecture, Jiangxi Province. He had been sponsored by Chen to study and had passed the imperial examination last year. He was invited by Uncle Chen Ruhai to come to Nanjing to prepare for the spring imperial examination.

Manager Chen's expression softened instantly, and after a few breaths, his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked the young man up and down again.

His clean clothes, proper speech, clear and bright eyes, coupled with his handsome appearance, really gave him the air of a scholar... His heart sank, and he suddenly felt a little scared.

Ji'an Prefecture... The owner is indeed from Ji'an Prefecture. He hasn't shown his face for a long time, so not many people know about this. At least at Fulai Tavern, he's probably the only one who knows.

These days, the power of the word "fellow townsman" is immense. Even the Grand Secretary of the court would have a headache when encountering someone from the same hometown. He would have to give them some money or a steward or servant, and if not handled properly, he would be talked about behind his back in his hometown.

What's more, this unassuming scholar was a promising young man from his hometown whom the employer had his eye on... and he had even passed the imperial examination at the county level...

Seeing that the other party's face paled slightly, Ning Nan's eyes narrowed for a moment. He then said a few more words, such as "Uncle Ruhai has a blessed appearance," which included Chen Ruhai's facial features. Then, at the right moment, he took out the letter and said that it was a letter from Zhu, a Juren from Ji'an Prefecture, who asked him to bring it to greet Uncle Ruhai.

Shopkeeper Chen was somewhat stunned. Upon hearing the words "successful candidate in the imperial examination," his pupils visibly contracted. He bowed slightly, took the letter with both hands, and mumbled, "Oh...oh..."

Ning Nan smiled and said, "Last year, Uncle Ru Hai told me that he had a cousin named Chen in the capital. Although Chen was from the capital, he was as close to Ning Nan as a brother. Chen was capable and honest, and was Ning Nan's best friend. I never thought that I would meet him in person today..."

"Uh... Young Master Ning, you're too kind..." The other person's expression softened completely, and he straightened his back slightly.

He was indeed from the capital, but he couldn't write two characters with the surname Chen. The fact that his employer valued him did play a role in that.

Ning Nan walked past several waiters surrounding him, looked around the entire restaurant, and said with a smile, "When Uncle Hai was in his hometown, he often spoke of the prosperity of this capital city, as well as the grandeur and outstanding presence of this Fu Lai Restaurant. Everyone in his hometown was full of envy. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation..."

"When I passed the imperial examination last year, my uncle Ruhai's parents and the elders of our hometown asked me to spend more time with him after I arrived in Nanjing."

"But I am well aware of my own limitations. Before I left, my parents repeatedly told me that I should just send a message and not bother Uncle Ruhai. After all, Uncle Ruhai's sponsorship of my studies is already a great favor. When I return to my hometown, I will definitely..." Ning Nan bowed and prepared to turn and leave.

"Oh, no, no, no, no, don't bother me, don't bother me..." Manager Chen hurriedly bent down and tugged at his sleeve, saying with an embarrassed smile, "Young Master Ning has misunderstood, misunderstood..."